At the Accor Arena,
This is the second time Djokovic and Rune have met.
Coming from qualifying, Rune had taken a set from the Serb for their first confrontation in the first round of the US Open 2021 (6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 defeat).
He will try to do even better this Sunday.
Paris is doing well
The winner of Roland-Garros juniors in 2019 had never passed a Grand Slam round, before reaching the quarters of the big picture last spring.
Porte d'Auteuil, he had struck a blow by leaving in particular Stefanos Tsitsipas (7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4) in 8th.
This week at Bercy, he beat four top 10s to reach his first final in a Masters 1000 at the age of 19. The adventure almost ended in the first round when he had to save three match points against Stan Wawrinka.
The Gentofte native then dismissed without trembling Hubert Hurkacz, Andrey Rublev, world number one Carlos Alcaraz (who retired through injury), and Auger-Aliassime, breaking a series of sixteen straight victories and three titles in as many weeks (Florence, Antwerp and Basel) of the Canadian.
A dazzling progression
Rune has taken another step forward this week.
Turned pro in 2020, 475th at the start of 2021, he was only 107th last January.
Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune, his full name, has since won his first title on the main circuit, the ATP 250 in Munich, where he notably knocked down Alexander Zverev, then world number 3.
After a legitimate slack during the summer following his accession to the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros, the Dane has had a dazzling autumn with four finals in his last four tournaments (victory at the ATP 250 in Stockholm, defeats at the ATP 250 in Sofia and ATP 500 in Basel).
He will even be top 10 if he were to bring down the Djokovic monster this Sunday.
Read alsoPatrick Mouratoglou about Holger Rune: “He is an enthusiast who believes in himself”
In the bosom of the Mouratoglou Academy
Guided by his sister, 'Holgy' crossed paths with Lars Christensen from the age of 6 and a half.
Trained since he was 13 at the Mouratoglou Academy, in Biot near Nice, the Dane has remained faithful to his lifelong coach.
But for a month, the French technician has been working alongside Lars Christensen.
“
We have known each other for a very long time since he has worked at my academy since he was 13,
explained this week the former coach of Serena Williams.
A month ago I was available and his staff offered me to join the team.
They considered that they needed an additional look.
Lars, who I know well too, thought it was a good idea.
“Mission accomplished for the moment.
Read alsoRolex Paris Masters: Alcaraz-Rune, from the Petits As to Bercy, the flash ascent
This is the Alcaraz generation
The Spaniard's fantastic season almost put him in the shadows.
The Dane is the same age as the Spaniard – just six days apart at birth in the spring of 2003. The two phenoms are also the two youngest players in the top 1000. In 2017, they featured in the Petits As de Tarbes table and they had split the field twice.
They embody the new wave without complex.
“
If Alcaraz, world number one at 19 was not there, we would pay more attention to him.
That said, good for him, perhaps, because there is less pressure
, ”says Mouratoglou.
There will certainly be more if the prodigy wins against the Serb this Sunday.
A sacred character that does not please everyone
The 19-year-old fast-paced tennis player with the flipped cap gives himself the means to fulfill his ambitions, and has wanted him to be world number one since he was little.
Behind his chubby face hides a sacred character.
During a disputed semi-final at challenger Biella in June 2021, he uttered homophobic insults and later apologized on Instagram.
His big character is playing tricks on him.
A slight altercation took place at the net between Wawrinka and Rune, after the Dane's victory over the Swiss in the first round.
The eldest reproached the youngest for his attitude on the court.
“
My advice to you: stop behaving like a baby, okay?
“, he let go.
At Roland-Garros, after an already very fresh handshake with the Norwegian Casper Ruud, the latter confided: “
I don't know Holger personally, but I saw on TV that he could do a lot.
He's young and new, so that's excusable, but when you're in a big tournament like that, maybe it's time to grow up a bit
.
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